Guest Author - Shelly Lowenkopf - with Intl giveaway

Today I am taking part in the VA book Tour for Shelly Lowenkopf

presents

My review

Kindle edition

• Publisher: White Whisker Books (16 Nov 2012)
• ASIN: B00A95CU2W

Shelly Lowenkopf shares this advice with us....

Who’s telling your story?

Why?

On their face, these two questions may seem simple enough, but determined, dedicated writers need to poke beneath the surface.  Failure to consider the implications of these questions is a direct cause for literary agents and editors rejecting fiction submissions.

Point-of-view means what it says:  Story is filtered through the sensitivity and vocabulary of one or more characters. 

If your story has two, three, maybe even five or six point-of-view characters, well and good.  But these points-of-view must be restricted to one at a time.  No jumping from character within the same scene or chapter.  No requesting the indulgence of omniscient perspective.  When you can manage scenes and characters as deftly as William Trevor, we can issue you a hall pass.  But not yet.  Right now, you’re limited to one character per scene.

Among other things, that means “Author, stay out.”  No stage directions, footnotes, or background checks supplied by a writer who wishes to make sure the reader is getting all the information necessary to make the story work.  If the point-of-view character doesn’t get it, doesn’t see it, then the reader needs to be able to get it by indirection and implication.  Mr. Stevens, the butler-protagonist of The Remains of the Day, didn’t “get” a great many things.  He was by all accounts a naïve narrator.  But his author never told us that.  We were able to see it from his point of view—the way he responded, or did not respond, to dramatic events.

This leads you to the rabbit hole portal to the world of publication.  It is a world in many ways like the one Alice found, a world where twenty-first century fiction is not the descriptive world it once was.  The world of fiction is evolving toward a landscape of evocation.  By the events, feelings, and responses you, the writer, assign to your characters, the reader is able to infer how the character is holding up in a story, giving the reader a chance to root for the success or failure of that character’s agenda.

Now we can approach that second question, the Why? of your choice of character. 

Why, for instance, did F. Scott Fitzgerald assign Nick Carraway to narrate the story of The Great Gatsby?  Because Nick saw Gatsby as Fitzgerald did, a hopeless romantic, driven by his goal of achieving at any cost the illusion of love conquering all.

When William Faulkner set the character of Benjy Compson into motion for The Sound and the Fury, he did not have to tell us Benjy was an idiot.  We knew from direct experience of Benjy’s point-of-view of reality.  And we learned through our own experience of the entire novel that Benjy was the one character of absolute integrity and vision.

As writers, we chose our characters with care.  They are our foot soldiers, our tools, our intentions in telling the story.  They are also, to mix the metaphors, our children whom we trust to drive the family car.  They carry the story.  By allowing them this freedom, we are able to join the readers in our concerns for their welfare and understanding as they confront the obstacles we set in their path.

Before you submit that latest project to come out of your creative process, take another look at those critical questions.  Who’s telling the story?  Are there too many?  Not enough?  Are there places where you threw in such things as “Laird did not see Fred leave the gathering?”  If he did not see Fred leave, you’ve violated point-of-view by throwing in your own.

There’s enough going on in your story without you getting in the way.  The answer to the Why? question is also simple.  You chose these characters in order to keep them in the story and you out.

The Fiction Writers Handbook  Web Tour Schedule

So Many Precious Books  Feb 19  Spotlight & Giveaway

Angler's Rest Feb 20 Review &  Giveaway

Dizzy C's Little Book Feb 21 Review                        

Dizzy C's Little Book Feb 22  Guest Post & Giveaway

CozyLittle Book Journal   Feb 26 Review             

Cozy Little Book Journal    Feb 28 Interview & Giveaway
Bloggin Bout Books Feb 27 Review & Giveaway

Dr. Bill's Book BazaarFeb 28 Review                        

Alive on the Shelves Mar 1 Guest Post           

Angela Shelton      Mar 4 Review & Giveaway

Teena in Toronto Mar 5   Review                      

Book Lover's Library  Mar 6 Review                            

Book Lover's Library Mar 7 Guest Post
Reviewing Shelf     Mar  11 Review                                               

Every Free Chance Mar 11 Guest Post

Broken Teepee     Mar 12 Review                                

Frugal Experiments Mar 13 Review & Giveaway

Joy Story Mar 14 Review & Giveaway                               

  Now for a chanceto win one epub or mobi copy of Shelly's Book 
International giveaway   

Please complete the form below

Please see giveaway policy

Ends 8th March 2013


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Review: The Fiction Writer's Handbook - Shelly Lowenkopf

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 744 KB
• Publisher: White Whisker Books (16 Nov 2012)
• ASIN: B00A95CU2W

The blurb (from Amazon)

The Fiction Writer's Handbook is the definitive volume to explain the words and phrases that writers and editors use when they talk about a work. In the highly competitive publishing world, today's writers need to stay ahead of the competition and make every sentence count. This book will help new writers who need an understanding of the writing process, and for seasoned writers, it is a powerful tool.

The first sentence in the Preface reads... The Fiction Writer's Handbook is a tool for writers of fiction and for readers who love a story.

I was not sure how easy it would be to navigate a reference e-book. I should not have worried as this book has a table of contents which is fully linked to each entry, plus there are links within the text which are underlined and easy to follow.

As a reader/reviewer I found that this comprehensive volume made for very interesting reading. Of course I have not read and digested the whole book, yet.  This will be a valuable reference book to help enrich my reading by understanding the structure and process of writing a short story or novel. 

Aimed at new writers and readers I understand that it would be useful to more experienced writers, too.

With a foreward by Christopher Moore

I was sent an e-copy of this Handbook as part of the tour for Shelly Lowenkopf via

Check back tomorrow for an interview with Shelly Lowenkopf and the chance

to win an e-copy of this book.

Guest Author - Serena Clarke

Today Serena Clarke  is celebrating the launch of All Over the Place.

Photos courtesy of the author

Thank you for being guest today, Serena.  Happy launch day!

About Serena Clarke

Serena Clarke writes smart, sweet and sassy fiction that reflects the international lives we lead – or dream of. No matter where you are, life can be complicated. But it’s also full of magic, possibility and second chances. So yes, you’ll definitely find a happy ending in her stories!

Serena grew up in a family of itchy-footed readers and dreamers – not concentrating, reading the atlas and Narnia books, and planning to escape somewhere magical as soon as she could. When she was 16, she went from New Zealand to live in Sweden for a year. It was the beginning of many travels and adventures – and quite a few disasters! She didn’t know it at the time, but eventually she’d be grateful for all the downs as well as the ups. As writers say in the face of adversity: “I can use that.”

Despite a BA in Scandinavian Studies and a Diploma in Equine Management, she’s done all kinds of completely unrelated jobs – editing an international medical journal, developing photos for the Commonwealth Games, temping in a City law firm, teaching English as a second language to wayward teenagers, and many more.

Having come full circle through seven cities in four countries, she’s now back in New Zealand in her 39th house – probably not the last! Luckily, she has a tall, dark and handsome husband to help look after their two boys while she dreams up stories. Turns out that happily-ever-afters happen in real life too.

Buy All Over the Place here

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Place-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00B2B0X9E/

Contemporary romantic fiction with a chick lit feel – available 18 February 2013

Livi Callaway has fled back to London after a reality TV disaster in New Zealand. Safely anonymous in the big city, she’s determined to stay under the radar from now on. But her attempts to build a new life are complicated by unexpected visitors from her old one, and new dangers and temptations lie in wait.

Late one night, she meets a mysteriously sexy American on the Underground – and the events that follow take her from Pooh Bear to the golden lights of Paris, via a trail of rock stars dead and alive. A family in disarray, a determined Swede, a crazed Australian and a childhood friend (who might yet be more than that) have her all over the place as she tries to discover the American’s secret – while keeping her own.

With help – and occasional hindrance – from her friends, what she eventually finds is something unexpected...sometimes, running away can lead you to exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

Find Serena here

http://www.serenaclarke.com

https://www.facebook.com/SerenaClarkeAuthor

https://twitter.com/Serena_Clarke

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6893136.Serena_Clarke

Guest Author - Joanne Phillips with Intl giveaway

Today I have the honour and pleasure of introducing Joanne Phillips, author of 
The Family Trap which is released this week, and Can't Live Without

photos courtesy of the author

• Publisher: Mirrorball Books (14 Feb 2013)
• ISBN-13: 978-0957309418

Also available on Kindle

The Family Trap – A Romance With A Difference!

When I typed those two wonderful words – ‘The End’ – and finally finished my debut novel, Can’t Live Without, I honestly didn’t intend to write a sequel. In many ways I was glad to see the back of Stella and Paul and their will-they/won’t-they love story. I’d lived with these characters for six years, endured countless rewrites and edits on my journey to publication, and was more than happy to send them off into the ether.

Readers, however, had other ideas. ‘Are you planning a sequel?’ they’d ask by email or on Facebook. ‘What happened next?’ And Stella didn’t want to go away – she had one more story to tell me, she said. What else could I do but obey?

The Family Trap could carry the subtitle: What happens after the happy ever after? I wanted to show a real couple, with real problems: all the messy, complicated, awkward stuff that arises from bad communication and a lack of total honesty. I wanted to take it to its limit, and push this star-crossed couple as far as I could to see if they cracked! Writers can be cruel at times JI also wanted to show a strong female character who could manage quite well without a man, thank you very much. In fact, all the female characters in The Family Trap are strong and resourceful. There’ll be no wimpy heroines on my watch!

For me, the real joy of writing The Family Trap was exploring relationships in later life. Stella’s mum and dad are wildly in love and planning a renewal of their wedding vows, and my favourite sub-plot of all time happens in the old people’s home where Stella works. (I think Edie and Franklin and their octogenarian romance might deserve a novel all of its own!) And set against all this lurve is Stella’s own nightmare wedding scenario ... Well, I’m not giving too much away here.

There won’t be a third outing for Stella and Paul. Although The Family Trap is a stand-alone sequel (you don’t have to have read Can’t Live Without to enjoy it), I did find writing a sequel hard work. For a writer of romance, keeping the characters fresh and interesting, while remaining true to their original incarnation, is pretty challenging. Stella has promised to go away and leave me alone now. I just hope she keeps to her word ...

Excerpt:

‘Get it out of me. Get. It. Out.’

My daughter is only sixteen, but today is possibly the best and the worst day of her life. Even though she’s still my baby – will always be my baby – right now she’s trying to squeeze out her own baby into the waiting arms of a red-faced midwife. While discovering the hard way that some young bodies just aren’t designed for childbirth.

Her gasps of pain bring back the memory of her own birth with a force I hadn’t expected, and I almost find myself reaching for the gas and air in sympathy. They say you eventually forget the torture of giving birth – why else would any woman go on to have more than one child? We’re brave, not masochists. Well, I only had one, and I can tell you right now: a woman never forgets.

They also say nothing is more painful than giving birth. Wrong again. Watching your own child in labour is far more painful. Right now I wish it were me lying there on the bed and not her.

What is it they also say? Be careful what you wish for?

Sometimes I wish theywould just shut up.

I’m standing away from the business end, holding my daughter’s hand and mopping ineffectually at her forehead while she screams and swears at the midwife. My feelings aren’t important right now, are they? This is about her, and that little life fighting its way down her underdeveloped tubes, every beat of its heart monitored carefully, every movement another stab of agony for my girl.

I push away the tiny, ashamed-to-show-its-face part of me that is also thinking: See? You didn’t listen, did you, when I told you how awful it would be? You weren’t careful, you didn’t take precautions, and now look at us. A slip of a girl, high on Pethidine, showing off an astonishingly varied vocabulary, attended by her own single mum who still hasn’t gotten used to the fact that any minute now she will become a grandmother.

A grandmother! At thirty-eight. There is so much wrong with this picture I don’t know where to start.

Here comes Robert with fresh supplies of ice and chocolate, his face showing the strain of watching Lipsy suffer. Robert is one of those people who seem to be all one colour: his fine hair is the same pale biscuit shade as his skin; even his clothes are beige. He looks young for thirty-one, but his hairline tells of problems to come.

That my daughter chose to fall in love with a man nearly twice her age tops off the craziness just perfectly, in my opinion.

‘Stella?’ says Robert, handing me the ice wrapped in a flannel. He’s only just stopped calling me Mrs Hill, despite the fact that I’ve never been a Mrs in my life. This is about to change in two weeks’ time, of course, but I won’t be Mrs Hill.

I take the flannel and apply it to the back of Lipsy’s neck. She’s on all fours now, panting like a marathon runner, her white T-shirt stuck to her back. Her long dark hair is matted at the crown like a fallen-out beehive, her lips vivid against her fair skin.

I know why I’m angry, why I’m blaming Lipsy and dragging up all the stuff I thought I’d buried months ago. It’s because I’m scared. No, terrified.

If I allow my mind to process what’s happening in front of my eyes – if I let the fear in for a second – I’ll be no use to my daughter at all. So I huff when she asks me for a glass of water, and I tut when Robert tenderly places a square of Bourneville in her swollen mouth.

‘I need the toilet,’ Lipsy croaks, her voice hoarse from shouting.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ is my response. It’s how I’m dealing with it. Don’t shoot me.

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Family-Trap-ebook/dp/B00BBJVLSE/

Find out more about Joanne at http://www.joannephillips.co.uk

Joanne Phillips has kindly offered one e-copy of The Family Trap  to one lucky winner. International.

Please fill in the rafflecopter form below to be in with a chance.

Please see Giveaway Policy.

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Ends 1 March 2013

Guest Author - Amanda Egan

Amanda Egan, author of romance with a good dollop of humour, chats today about what Valentine's Day means to her.  

Valentine’s Day - does it fill you with joy or make you cringe?  Do you think it’s blatant commercialism or a good excuse to spoil and be spoiled?

My early school days always saw me knowing that a card would drop through the door from ‘an admirer’ who was clearly my dad - sweet, but nothing to get my heart racing with excitement!

Early teens had me receiving all sorts of cards from unknown senders but never from the one who really mattered - yes, Chris Bryan, you have a lot to answer for!  But I did have that unaccounted for card in 1979 … could it have been you? Allow me my dreams, please!

Then came the first boyfriend - and with him came ‘Snoopy’ and ‘Love Is …’ cards - yes I really am that old.  He was a romantic at heart and, at fifteen, I felt he said and did all the right things.

Fast forward to the first (and last, other than hubbie) guy I lived with.  Ten years!  Ten years of hoping I might get a Valentine’s card or even a birthday card that hadn’t been bought by his mother!  See why I left him?!

And now I’m married - have been for eighteen years - and I’ve found my true Valentine.  Why?  Because he makes me laugh - and I firmly believe that life, love and relationships are nothing without a good dollop of giggling.

Maybe that’s why I choose to put a sprinkling of humour in my books - I just feel it makes the world go round - and my male leads have a healthy sense of humour too.  I’ve met some pretty dull men in my time and I know for sure I could never share my life with one and I certainly wouldn’t want to read about one as a romantic hero - if you don’t make me laugh, you won’t get my pulse racing.  Mean and moody is OK for a short while but perlease, just make me giggle.

So what will my Valentine’s Day bring this year?

Well. we always make our own cards and then we pretend that they have been plopped through the letterbox by a passer-by.  Names on the envelope are often misspelled or may say, ‘The lovely lady at no 37’.  Daft, I know, but it’s tradition.

Our meal will be a deal from M&S or the fabulous ‘Cook’ - no real cooking involved and cheaper than deliberately over-inflated restaurant prices.  And quite frankly, I don’t want to sit in a room full of couples dribbling over one another - or, more often than not, struggling to make conversation.

Our gifts will be simple - a CD, chocs or perfume/aftershave - I have a birthday three days after Valentine’s Day so hubbie has to work extra hard on ideas.

But we know we will laugh.  Our conversation will flow and the giggles will be plentiful.  You see, it’s what hubbie and I do best.  We’ve had a tough few years financially, and we’ve just managed to keep our leaky old roof over our heads, but we firmly believe that one day we’ll look back on our dark times and see that they all happened for a reason - and you know what we’ll do then?  Yep, laugh!

We’re a team.  A double act.  And without our sense of humour, we’d be nothing.  No satin card or mega sized bouquet can beat that.  No diamond ring or platinum bracelet.  He’s my buddy and we fully intend to chuckle our way to our graves, batting away whatever life may throw at us.

So whatever you find yourself doing this Valentine’s Day, whether it involves a partner or not, do it with a giggle - it makes you feel good and it costs nothing.

Oh, and the ones where your mascara runs and your sides hurt - they’re  the best.

Find out about Amanda Egan HERE

Find her books here

Twitter @Mummy_Misfit

DizzyC asks......What are you hoping for this Valentine's Day?  Do you give it a miss?

W.I.P. Weds - Allie Spencer

Today Allie Spencer shares her latest WIP and chats about weddings and a cute dog.

Thank you for being my guest today, Allie

Save the Date! By Allie Spencer

My work in progress is very nearly finished. I did the one, solitary correction from my editor (I’m not normally so lucky when it comes to corrections!) yesterday and Save the Date! should soon be winging its way to the copy editor for the final stage of its journey. Save the Date! Is my third novel for Arrow and the last one for now to be set in an exotic location – and it was huge fun to write:

You can choose your friends...

The only thing worse than the family from hell, is the family wedding from hell and Ailsa Stuart is dreading being marooned in Italy with her nearest and not-so-dearest for the nuptials of her cousin Jessica, especially because she has a very good reason hate romance in general – a very handsome reason called Nick Bertolini, whom she walked out on six months before and hasn’t heard from since.

But once out in Italy, Ailsa has more than her own worries to think about: the Jessica’s father calls off the wedding; the bride goes into melt-down and Ailsa does her best to turn their heartbreak hotel into a happy-ever-after...but when Nick himself turns up out of the blue – and the sparks really begin to fly.

Will it be wedding bells or broken hearts? Confetti or catastrophe? And can Ailsa and Nick stop arguing long enough to remember why they fell hopelessly in love in the first place?

I’ve wanted to write a wedding book for some time now. As well as being supremely romantic occasions, weddings can also be very fraught and the potential for things going spectacularly wrong is very high indeed – all wonderful fodder for a rom com writer like me! I also love writing about family relationships. I grew up in a very large, extended collection of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and I relish the way that family members can fall out for a while but then pull together and make up their differences when the chips are down. We all need our families and love them to bits, although we still drive each other bonkers from time to time!

As far as plotting and planning go, like to know what I’m writing about before I start – I’m not a ‘pantser’ by any means! But books can have minds of their own (or at least it sometimes feels like that!) When I plotted the story originally, I had no intention of putting any animals in but, as I wrote what is now the second chapter where my heroine Ailsa is checking into the hotel, I suddenly heard the pit-pat of a dog’s paws on the floor behind her...and there was a cheeky Jack Russell terrier with a big doggy grin on his face. I absolutely fell in love with love him – in my head, he’s the spitting image of the little dog in the film The Artist and I had real fun – as well as a few tear-jerking moments – weaving him into the novel.

So – weddings, a cheeky dog and a hero who is hotter than a sunbed in the Sahara; but what else? Well, I made sure there are some corkscrew-like plot twists, a lot of laughs and more than a few tears. I loved writing it – and I hope you have as much fun reading it! 

One very lovely cover

Find out more about Allie Spencer at

Twitter @Allie1spencer

website : alliespencer.com

 Little Black Dress Facebook page

Also 'Summer Nights' the fabulous summer novel by award-winning author ALLIE SPENCER. Published June 2012 from Arrow.

Authors, would you like to share your WIP and connect with readers, please contact me for details.
DizzyC

Linn B Halton - Book Tour

http://linnbhalton.co.uk/

Linn Halton pops in today to share news of her latest novel 

Never Alone

A contemporary romance with a twist!

“It’s a gift to be shown something that allows you to make a difference and alter the outcome of someone else’s life. However, the weight of the responsibility that goes along with that is huge and what about the ethics?  The thing I have to ask myself, is how did my actions change the future?”

Holly is the envy of all her friends, she haslived with the gorgeous Will for five years and supported him every step of the way.  His IT business is about to go global and they are on the verge of having all their dreams come true!  A life split between homes in the UK and Los Angeles beckons, offering them a glamorous and exciting lifestyle they will both fit into quite perfectly.  So when Will pops the question, why won’t Holly say ‘yes’?

  

A series of terrifying encounters unleashes an inherited psychic connection within Holly.  Her ‘perfect’ life is turned upside down as she struggles with the reality of her ‘gift’.  Help comes from a chance meeting with medium Peter Shaw and she discovers that she is also being given healing and protection by the spirits of two people.  One of them is her best friend’s brother, Nick, who died suddenly in tragic circumstances. Holly finds herself confiding in him in an attempt to sort out her own life.

She begins to sense that the path she’s on isn’t the one she’s destined for, but is it too late to change things?  The thought of hurting the people she loves the most causes her to bury her emotions, until fate takes a hand………..

Life’s all about the choices we make …

About the author:

Linn writes contemporary women's love stories that reflect life, but you are always guaranteed an ending that won't disappoint!

Love, life and beyond… but it’s ALWAYS about the romance!

Linn signed with US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing in 2012; The Quintessential Gemini, a heart-warming romance was released in June 2012 and The Restaurant @ The Mill, a collection of life/love stories based around an old mill, was released in August 2012. Linn is a member of the RNA.

Linn also has two self-published books – Touched By The Light (a psychic romance that will make you think) and Being A Sceptic Is Oh So Easy (a diary of events/true story).

Linn is a featured new Author loveahappyending.comand also one of the Editors on the website's magazine-style blog.

Linn’s links:

Website  

A loveahappyending.com author

Signed by:http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/linnbhalton

Twitter: @LinnBHalton

Facebook: Linn B Halton

Romantic Novelists’ Association page

Amazon.co.uk (buy)

Amazon.com (buy)

For the chance to win one of 3 e-copies of NEVER ALONE, please fill in the form below.
UK addresses only. 


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Nicky Wells tours with Dan and Sophie - with Giveaway details

Today I have the pleasure and honour of having Nicky Wells here on the blog.  She is touring with Dan and Sophie for the launch of SOPHIE'S RUN

Come dine with Sophie and Dan: Today’s treat is… Lazy Surf’n’Turf!

Sophie’s Run Blogtour 2013

Sophie’s Run is now available in Kindle edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and in Paperback edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. You can also get the paperback at Barnes & Noble, or download Sophie’s Run onto your Nook (coming soon).

Sophie’s Run

Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

Who says that the road towards true love is straight and even?  Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet.  But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy.  Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful.  A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.

Hello! In case you don’t know me, I’m Dan Hunter of rock band Tuscq and romantic hero in the Rock Star Trilogy by Nicky Wells. We’re celebrating the launch of the second book, Sophie’s Run, which takes Sophie and my romance onto a little bit of a rollercoaster detour, but it’s all good and we had a lot of fun.

We’re also going on tour! Yes indeed, to celebrate the book launch, Nicky has decided to showcase all of our favourite places and foods. Sophie’s and mine, that is! A huge thank you to the fabulous Carol for hosting us here on her amazing book blog!! So today, it’s my turn to share with you all one of my best meals. Yes, I can cook! Sophie was surprised, too.

“Humble beginnings,” he grinned when I teased him about it. “Some things you never forget. I can work a dishwasher, too. And I can cook.” He threw me a probing look, brow furrowed, before he added, “There are quite a lot of little things you don’t know about me yet, my sweet. You know the big stuff, but you never had a chance to find out the everyday matters.” (Excerpt from Sophie’s Run)

Now Sophie’s love of seafood is legendary ever since Sophie’s Turn hit the shelves…

“And for mains,” Dan announced, “Sophie will have the seafood platter.” He winked at me over his menu.

“I will?” I said, astonished.

“She will?” Jack and Mick asked at the same time, also astonished.

Dan hesitated for only a second. “Sure.

(Excerpt from Sophie’s Turn)

But I’m a seafood lover too. Then again, I do love meat. So here’s the original Dan-the-rock-star easy slap-up meal: Lazy Surf’n’Turf.

Lazy? I hear you exclaim, in confusion. Yes, lazy. I mean, honestly, I can’t be doing faffing around with all this lobster malarkey. I like a good lobster, of course, and will have it cheerfully in a restaurant any day, but cooking one at home? Nah, not for me. I leave that to the other guy! *clears throat, moves on swiftly*

Anyway, yes, lazy surf’n’turf. Here goes!

For Lazy surf’n’turffor two you need…

~Two fat, juicy fillet steaks (yum)

~400 grams fresh, uncooked king prawns

~1 garlic clove, crushed or chopped

~1 small onion, chopped

~a tablespoon of butter

‘Hers’…

And here’s what you do.

Allow the steak to come to room temperature. Yes, that’s really important! I don’t have many cooking rules, but this is one. So, take it out of the fridge and put in on a plate (without any wrappers!) for at least half an hour before you cook it. While you’re at it, rub it with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.

To fry the steaks, bring a griddle pan to a high heat. Put the steaks in (they must sizzle or the pan isn’t hot enough) and fry on each side for 2-3 minutes (longer if you like it well done) without moving it.

Meanwhile, in another frying pan, melt the butter, add the crushed garlic and fry for 30 seconds, then add your king prawns. Season with pepper. (You can add a dash of lemon juice if you like).

And that’s it. Honestly. It’s done in a flash. Put the steaks on a plate each and arrange the prawns to one side, making sure you get plenty of that lovely garlic-buttery juice to go with them and your steak. (My mouth is watering as I write!!).

Serve with thin chips (aka French Fries), a potato gratin or simply a baked potato, and a side salad of fresh greens and a couple of cherry tomatoes to please your lady. Voila! Enjoy!

*scurries off, mumbling hastily over his shoulder* Excuse me while I just go and get some steak….

…and mine. Spot the difference???

So, happy eating! I hope my post today inspired you to a sumptuous, easy treat. And when you relax afterwards… well, why not perhaps join Sophie and me for some rock star romance? Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run are both out now and you can find out Carol’s thoughts on the books by following these links  Sophie's Turn and Sophie's Run

Sophie’s Run GIVEAWAYS

1. Standard Giveaway

Nicky Wells is giving away one delicious chocolate gift to a lucky winner in the UK or North America!

The small print: This Gift prize is a product of Unique Chocolate. The Gift prize is subject to availability in your country. If the Gift prize is not available in your country, Nicky Wells reserves the right to offer a substitute gift prize of a similar nature at her discretion. Nicky Wells will require the winner’s postal address for shipping purposes.

To enter this giveaway please complete the form

Rafflecopter entry

  

2. Bonus Giveaway

Nicky Wells offers a giveaway of one Amazon gift voucher worth $20/£15 for one lucky winner. To enter, simply share your thoughts on Sophie’s Run with Nicky. Email your comment to nickywells@sapphirestarpublishing.com and your name will be entered into the draw. Competition closes 1 May 2013.

Photos courtesy of the author

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and the girl next door.  A signed author with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, Nicky is in the throes of publishing her Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters.  When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on her work in progress. 

You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook. Nicky is a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing, Amazon and, of course, Goodreads.